There are many scholarships offered at North, but the story behind each one is unique. The Steven Jacob Burrow scholarship is a heart-wrenching story. To those in Wichita that didn’t know Steven personally, he was the kid that got swept away by flooding in the Big Ditch, but to his family he was a brother, a son, a cousin, a grandson, and a nephew.

A few weeks before his freshman year, 14-year-old Steven went swimming in the Big Ditch with his friends, unaware of the strong undercurrent in the water. He went under and never came back up. His body was found three days later.

“He was an incredibly independent young man and always stood up for the underdog. His future was bright and promising,” his sister Ashleigh, who graduated in 2016, said.

“Steven did not always make good grades, but he was a good person. We created the award for someone like him, whose heart is better than his grades. In many cases the heart is more important. North High is family to me and we wanted to award someone in memory of my brother,” she said.

The scholarship is meant for students interested in JROTC or the armed forces.

Ashleigh described the family’s hopes for the scholarship. “I believe it’s for someone involved in JROTC or interested in the armed services. He wanted to be in the Air Force. And of course someone showing upstanding character and respect for others.”

In 2016, the scholarship was awarded to two students, who each received $500. Counselor Amanda Glazier selects the recipient.

“In an effort to keep his memory lovingly alive, we started the scholarship. He was already an enrolled student before he died. Once a Redskin always a Redskin,” Ashleigh said.